Method of transmitting and utilizing electric currents.



P. 0. HEWITT. METHOD OF TRANSMITTING AND UTILIZING ELEGTRIG GURRENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 5. 1901.

955,460. Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Wl'iEe'sses: lnvelzfar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

PETER COOPER HEWITT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF TRANSMITTING AND.UTILI ZING ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER COOPER HEWITT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Transmitting and Utilizing Electric Currents, of which the following is a specification.

In certain patents granted to me on the 17th day of September, 1901, I have described a form of electric device in which a gas or vapor path is traversed by electric currents. I have also set forth certain peculiarities with reference to the so-called negative electrode reluctance.

I have found thatthe rincipal resistance opposed to the starting of the flow of electric current through a device of the character referred to, exists at the negative electrode, and that when such resistance is broken down or overcome'current will pass under the influence of comparatively low electromotive-forces. This resistance to starting at the negative electrode may, for convenience, be termed the negative electrode reluctance. I have found, moreover, that so long as the negative electrode resistance remains overcome, the positive electrode from which current is flowing may be replaced by another current carrying positive electrode, without causing a cessation of the flow of current to the negative electrode. It results, therefore, that if a device of this character he provided with several positive electrodes which are connected successively with sources of positive electro-motiveforces, current may be caused to flow successively from the several positive electrodes through the device to the negative electrode, provided that at alltimes a suflicient electromotive-force is presented to the terminals of the device by means of any of the positive electrodes and the negative electrode to prevent the negative electrode reluctance from reestablishing itself. Ihave further found that even though one of the positive electrodes were negative with reference to another, current would not flow from such positive electrode to such temporary negative electrode Without first breaking down the negative electrode reluctance at said electrode. Another feature which I have discovered is that when such device is being operated by current flowing from the posireverse direction by reason of the negative electrode reluctance which would reside at the positive becoming negative. Moreover,

any leakage current which may pass from one positive electrode to another is so small as to be negligible. By reason of these characteristics, I am enabled to use the device in connection with polyphase alternating electric currents by providing a positive electrode for each phase of the current and connecting the negative electrode to a neutral point of the source with reference to the several positives. In a three-phase system, for instance, the polyphase currents overlapping each other, in time, will cause a positive electro-motive-force to be at all times impressed upon one or more of the positive electrodes so that there may always be a flow of current through the device in a given direction while in operation. It will follow that there will be present in the circuit leading from the negative electrode back to the source, a flow of current in one direction only, the quantity of this current being dependent upon the resistance of the circuit and the eflective electro-motive-forces presented to the terminals of the device.

Generally speaking, my invention may be stated to involve the supplying of a positive electrode for each phase of. the alternating current and substituting these electrodes for each other with the successive alternations of current, a single negative electrode being common to all of the positives. Where this device is desired to be used as an illuminating device or a lamp, the path between the several positive electrodes and the negative electrode is constructed of such a length and diameter as to present a vapor path suitable for giving light and having the desired electrical resistance. This may be accomplished in accordance with the directions given in my patents hereinbefore referred to.

There are many uses to which the device may be applied such, for instance, as operating various classes of apparatus requiring currents continuous in direction, the charging of storage batteries, electrolytic operations, etc.

.The accompanying drawing illustrates the general organization of the apparatus and circuits as applied to a three phase circuit.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents an inclosing chamber which may be of glass or other suitable material, and 2 2 and 2, represent three positive electrodes which are suitably supported within the chamber, and connected with their respective leading-in conductors, 7 7 and 7. In the drawing these electrodes are shown as being contained within an enlargement 4. The negative electrode, 5, is shown as consisting, in this instance, of a small body of mercury with which a leading-in wire, 8, makes connection. I have illustrated a source of polyphase current, in this case, a three-phase generator, or a suitable transformer, adapted to deliver the requisite currents. spective terminals of the source are connected by conductors, 12, 13 and 14, with respective positive electrodes, 2 2 and 2. The neutral point of the source 11 is connected by a conductor 15, through any desired devices, with the leading-in wire 8.

For the purpose of starting the device, any suitable means may be employed. I usually surround the portion of the device adjacent to the negative electrode by a conducting band, 9, connected with any one of the conductors leading to the positive electrodes; or, it may be connected as in this instance with the earth by a conductor, 10. This serves to aid in starting a flow of current through. the device.

A convenient way of starting the device and overcoming the negative electrode reluctance where the potential employed is not in itself sufficient to insure the starting, is to impress upon the terminals an electro-motive-force higher than that required for its normal operation. This may be done in any convenient way as, for instance, by means of a potential raising device included in any one of the circuits. In the drawing, T have shown the coil 21 included in the conductor 15, this coil acting as a secondar to a primary coil, 22, included in the circuit of a suitable circuit-interrupter such, for instance, as a Wehnelt, 24, one terminal of the primary coil being connected with the conductor 15 and the other by the conductor 23,

with one side of the Wehnelt, the other side of the Wehnelt being connected by a conductor 25, with the conductor 12 for instance. A switch 26 may be included in the con ductor 25 for controlling its circuit connections, and a conductor 27 with a switch 28 may be employed for short-circuiting or cutting out of circuit, the coil 21. For special reasons the coil 21 may be put in other portions of the circuit, provided it is so arranged as to cause a momentary high electro-motive-force to be impressed upon the terminals of the device. Other means of starting the device may be employed, if desired.

When the flow of current has been started The reit will continue to pass in succession from the several electrodes 2*, 2 and 2, to the negative electrode 5, the successive electrodes being in effect substituted, the one for another, as the positive electro-motive-force applied to one falls, and the positive electromotive-force to the succeeding one rises. During a portion of the time current may be flowing from more than one positive, the essential point being that there is always a sufiicient flow of current through the device to maintain it in its conductive condition and to prevent the restoration of the negative electrode reluctance at the negative electrode.

The invention is useful in various cases where it is desired to derive a direct current from an alternating source. in efi'ect such an apparatus as described herein serves the purpose of a rectifying device, whereby currents from a source of alternating currents pass through the apparatus and through the circuit connected therewith in one direction. The function and operation of the apparatus are the same whether it is itself used as a translating device or as a medium for transmitting a continuous current to other translating devices.

In an application filed by me April 5, 1901, Serial No. 54,484, claims are made upon the apparatus described herein. in application Serial No. 472,185, filed January 14, 1909, which is a division of this application, and in certain other applications, viz: Serial No. 129,352, filed ()ctober 30, 1902; Serial No. 129,353, filed October 30, 1902, and Serial No. 158,458, filed May 23,

,1903, claims are made upon various features described herein.

1 claim as my invention:'

1. The method of producing light by means of polyphase electric currents, which consists in transmitting through the lightgiving medium electric currents in one direction due to the electro-motive-forces impressed in that direction upon the respective circuits from the source and availing of the negative electrode reluctance for opposing the flow of current in another direction.

2. The method of operating a gas or vapor translating device with currents in one direction from an alternating source, which consists in overcoming the negative electrode reluctance in the selected direction, utilizing the reduced total resistance thus produced for permitting the passage of current in that direction through the device, and availing of a negative electrode reluctance for opposing the passage of current in other directions.

3. The method of impressing current of one direction from an alternating source upon an electric circuit including a conducting medium of gas or vapor and suitable positive and negative electrodes, the elec H rection, and utilizing the flow of current in one direction froma ,mg source through a device source of alternating currents, which consists in utilizing anegative electrode reluctance for preventing the flow of current in another direction, and maintaining a condition of comparatively small reluctance at the negative electrode. g i.

5. The method of obtaining a flow of cur-- rent in one direction from an alternating source through a device having electrode reluctance at its electrodes, which consists in breaking downthe initial negative reluctance at one electrode, and availing of a negative electrode reluctance to the flow' of current in the opposite direction.

6. The method of obtaining a continuous flow of current inv one direction from a source of polyphase alternating currents through a device having elect-rode reluctance, which consists in annulling the negative electrode reluctance to the flow of current in one direction, maintaining the consequent condition of low reluctance thereat,

and availing of negative electrode reluctance to the flow of currents in other directions.

7. The method of obtaining'a flow of current in one direction from a source of alternating currents through a device having electrode reluctance, which consists in annulling the negative electrode reluctance at one of the electrodes, continuing this condition thereat, and availing of negative electrode reluctance to the flow of current at other electrodes.

8. The method of obtaining a flow of current in a given direction from an alternathaving electrode reluctance, which consists in overcoming the negative electrode reluctance in one direction, maintaining this condition, and in availing of negative electrode reluctance to the flow of current in other directions.

9. The method of obtaining a flow of current iuone direction through a device having two or more sets of electrodes connected with a source of polyphase alternating cur rents, which consists in rendering and maintaining the device permeable to currents in one direction from'said source, and utilizinga negative electrode reluctance for renderlng it impermeable to currents of opposite direction.

10. The method of causing. a transmitting or translating medium 'ing medium of gas or T 13. The method jecting said body of in a polyphase elecwithin-the medium a condition favorable to the transmission of currents of one direction in respect to from the source or sources of polyphase currents, and utilizing a reluctance for renderin the medium impermeable to currents oi opposite direction from the said source or sources.

11. The method of obtaining a flow of current in one direction from an alternating source through a device having an electrode reluctance too great to be overcome by the electro-motive force of the source, which connegative electrode sists in breaking downthis' reluctance at one,

of the terminals within said medium, maintaining it in this condition, and utilizing the original resistance at the other terminal for preventing a flow of current in the opposite direction.

12. The method of impressing current of.

one direction froman alternating source upon an electric circuit including a conductvapor and suitable positive and negative electrodes, the electrodes having a high initial resistance to starting, which consists in overcoming the reluctance at one electrode, thereafter utilizing the increased conducting power of the circuit thus obtained in that direction to permit the passage of current from the source through the 'ClI'CllitS in the selected direction, and utilizing the negative electrode reluctance to prevent flow of current in other directions.

of deriving a uni-directipnal current from a source of alternating electro-motive-force, which consists in generating a body of ionized vapor and proionized vapor into the vicinity of a circuit operated on by said electro-n1otive-force, alternating electro-motive-force of one direction are cut led by the presence of the ionized vapor to set upcorresponding Waves of current while the waves of electro-motiveforce of opposite direction remain inert.

14;. The method of obtaining from an alternating current source a flow of current in a given direction in a system containing an exhausted container supplied with anodes and a cathode, which consists in initially overcoming the startin 'resistance and maintaining a continuous oW of current thereafter by transmitting a plurality of .overlapping unidirectional current through the cathode.

Signed at New York, in the countypf New York, and State, of New York, this 1st day of April A. D. 1901.

- PETER COOPER HEWITT.

Witnesses:

WM. H. CAPEL, GEORGE H. STOCKBRIDGE.

impulses I 

